Feeler mechanism for looms



im 13, 1925. V 1,523,237

A. E. RHOADES FEELER MECHANISM FofzvLoMs Filed Feb. 26, 1924 ".mapk

l i W ATTORNEY Patented jan. 13, i925.

ronacnron, or nornnann,

arasslicirosn'rrs. a CORPORATION or MAINE.

Application led February 26, 1924. Serial No. 695,296.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO E. Rrionnns a citizen O' the United States, residing at l-lopedale, in the county of lllorcester and State otlvlassachusctts, have invented an Improvement in Feeler lllechanisms for Looms, of which the 'following description,

in connection with the accompanying' drawings, is a specification, like characters l0 Onthe drawings representing like parts.

One o'f the objects of the present invention is to provide a feeler mechanism oi the intermittent type ot' simple and eliective construction andoperation whereby the iieeler may be moved to an inoperati.'e position and held during its periods ot inactivity that it may not contact with the lling on detecting beats and be treed at inte vals to its periods ot' activity and call for replenishment of filling when that in the shuttle is substantially exhausted.

An important feature ot the present invention consists in a feeler mechanism wherein the ieeler withdrawing and holding device is moved and rendered eiliective to perform its iunction by the teeler when it is moved frontwardly by a working supply ot filling on a detecting beat. In accordance with this 'feature ci the invention, the ieeler withdrawing and holding device is connected to the teeler in a manner such that frontward movement ot the Yfceler by a working supply ot' filling on a detecting beat causes the withdrawing and holding device to be moved into cooperative relation with its actuating means. ln one aspect of the invention, this is effected by a rack and pinion connection between the ieeler and the withdrawing and holding device, and a trip is employed to free the feeler at intervals that it may have periods of activity and-inactivity, the former preferably being` relatively short.

The invention and new combination Ol parts will best be made clear trom the tollowing description and the accompanying drawings of one good practical i'orm thereof, the details of which, however, may be be varied within the true scope ot the invention as defined by the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a persective view of a teeler mechanism embodying the present invention and also a portion of the loom at the iieeler side; and

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the eeler mechanism.

The ieeler mechanism to be hereinafter described in detail provides for a change in the loom operation, such as replenishment of filling when the iilling in the shuttle has become substantially exhausted, but the replenishing mechanism is not shown and dcscribed because it may be of any usual type now well understood by those familiar with weaving, and the details thereof forni no essential part ot` the present invention.

ln the illustrated form of the invention, the iecler mechanism of the present invention is shown as associated with a teeler mounted for movement longitudinally of the shuttle to call for a change of filling, and while the invention is well adapted for this type of feeler nicchanisn'i, the' invention is not necessarily restricted thereto but may be employed with advantage in other forms ot eelers.

Extending irom the loom frame is the usual shipper stand l from which projects an arm 2 to which the teeler mechanism may be adjustably secured. Supported by the arm 2 is a bracket 3 which may be adjusti ably connected to the arm 2 by a bolt d, as usual, and the upper 'portion 5 of the bracket 8 presents a convenient support for the teeler stand.

ln the present instance of the invention the feeler stand (S is connected to the bracket- 5 in the usual manner through the slot 7, and at its rear portion has a bearing S provided with a guideway in which is laterally movable a slide 9 having an opening l() through which the feeler ll extends. The slide 9 ris connected at l2 to a transmitter 13 which may be associated with any desired type or train ot mechanism for eiiecting replenishment of iilling when the slide 9 is moved laterally in its guides by side swipe movement Ot the 'feelerl The slide 9 is conveniently held in its bearings or guideway by a cap plate le which may be secured to the rear bearing 8 by screws 15.

The rontwardly extending stem portion 16 of the eeler passes through a front guide 17 formed as a swivel block and mounted on a pin 18 for swivelling movement. Between the front bearing 17 and a collar or bridge 19 secured to the :teeler is a spring 20 whichnormally acts upon the feeler to move it to rearward feeling position, and the 'rear end portion of the feeler may be provided with a series of teeth 21 to engage and snik into the lilling to prevent side swipe movement of the feeler during the active periods of the lfeeler when a working supply of lilling is present in the shuttle on detecting beat.

The lay 22 carries the usual shuttle box at the feeler side of the loom, and has an opening 23 which registers with a corresponding opening 24 in the shuttle 25 when the latter is in the shuttle box, so that the feeler 11, during its active period, may enter the shuttle and feel for the filling which is carried on the usual filling carrier or bobbin 27.

The parts thus far described may be the same in construction and mode of operation as the similar parts shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No.

1,309,226, July 8, 1919, to which reference may be had.

Secured to or projecting frontwardly from the feeler stand 6 is a bracket 28, carrying a pin or dead shaft 29 for the convenient support of the devices which act upon the feeler at times to move it to and hold it in frontward inactive position, and free it at times to its periods of inactivity.

The frontwardly extending stem 16 of the feeler is provided with a rack 30, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a pinion 31 loosely mounted upon the stud or dead shaft 29.

As shown in the present instance, the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32 is also mounted upon the stud or dead shaft 29 and is connected for rotative movement with theV pinion 31 as by means of the pins 33, the construct-ion being such that the pinion 31 and the member 32 rotate together. Themember 32 is provided with a series of teeth 34, two being shown in the present instance of the invention but any convenient number may obviously be employed, the construction being such that the member 32 has a toothed portion and an untoothed portion for a purpose that will presently appear.

Mounted upon the feeler stand for move ment towards and from the front of the machine is a plunger 35, the rear end portion 36 of which is adapted to engage a surface carried by the iay on each detecting beat and be moved frontwardly thereby. In Athe present instance, the rear end portion 36 of the plunger is shown as adjustably secured to theplunger by a nut 37 and is adapted, in the present instance, to engage the front wall of Vthe shuttle on a detecting beat. The plunger 35 is mounted in bearings of the feeler stand which may be conveniently formed by a riser 33 on the cap plate 14 to afford a rear bearing for the plunger, and the laterally extending arm 39 having a bearing portion 4() for the front end of the plunger. A spring 41 on the plunger and interposed between the front bearing and the collar 42 adjustably secured to the plunger normally tends to movevthe plunger into its rearward position, in which itmay be limited by the collar 42.

',Pivotally connected to the plunger at 43 is a pawl 44, the acting end Vportion of which is adapted to cooperate with the teeth 34 of the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32 when said teeth are presented for engagement by the pawl. In the present instance, the holding pawl45 is pivoted at 46 to the laterally extending arm 39 or a lug eX tending downwardly therefrom, and its active end is adapted to cooperate with the teeth 34 of the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32 to preventretrograde move ment thereof when engaged with one of said teeth.

Then the feeler is moved'to its rearward feeling position, as indicated in Fig. 2, the cooperative relation of the rack and pinion hereinbefore described will cause the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32 to be turned in a contra-clockwise direction, View# ing Fig. 1, to (ari-y the teethA 34 out of cooperative relation with the pawls 44 and 45, should said pawls be disengaged from the cooperating teeth of the feeler withdrawing and holding member,

Loosely mounted on the stud or dead shaft 29 is a ratchet wheel 47 the teeth 48 of which are adapted to be engaged by the ac tive end 49 of the pawl 50 pivoted at'51to the plunger 35, and in order to prevent too loose movement of the ratchet wheel 47 friction material 52 may be caused to bear upon the disk 53 formed as shown part of the hub 54 of the ratchet wheel 47.

Mounted upon and extending laterally from the ratchet wheel is a` trip or lug 55 which is of sufiiciei'it extent laterally from the ratchet wheel 47 to project beyond the active ends of the pawls 44 and 45, the construction being such that should the ratchet wheel 47 be turned clockwise, viewing-Fig. 1, the trip or lug 55 will eventually rise be'- neath the active ends of the pawls 44 and 45 and lift them from engagement with the teeth 34 of the feeler withdrawing and hold ing member 32, whereupon the feeler, under the actuation of its spring 20, will move to rearward feeling position and thereby turn the pinion 31 and the connected member 32 to carry the teeth 34 out of range of the pawls 44 and 45, thus freeing the feeler to the performance of its feeling function during periods of activity.

Assun'iing thatY the feeler is in its rearward feeling position, as indicated in Fig.` 2, the teeth. 34 of the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32 will be turned out Vof range of theY pawls 44 and 45 into the position indicated in, Fig. 2, at which time both pawlg will operate on the untoothed portion of the member 32 and consequently be .of no effect. Should thefeeler meet a working supply of filling on a -detecting beat when it is in active position, it will be moved frontwardly through the rack and pinion connection, with the feeler withdrawing and holding member `3:2, turning the latter to bring the teeth 34 Ithereof into the quent detecting beats the feeler will not engage the filling. As the activepawl 44 steps the feeler withdrawing and holding member Y32 along, as described, the holding pawl 45 will engage one ofthe teeth 34 thereon and retain the feeler in its frontward position until finally the active pawl 44 will move back and forth on the uiitoothed portion of the feeler withdrawing and holding member 32. It will be noted that the active en d of the holding pawl 45 is slightly frontward of the active end of the lpawl 44, sotliat while the pawl 44 is moving on the uiitoothed portion fof the feeler withdrawing and, holdinginember 32 and is consequently idle during` the subsequent `frontward movements of thev bunter, Vthe holding pawl will serve to hold the feeler withdrawing and holding member and, through the rack and pinion, the feeler in its frontward or inoperative position.

Since the plunger 35 isA moved front-wardly on the beat-up movements of the lay, the

47v and finally carry the trip or lugA A55 into position beneath the active ends of both pawls 44 and 45 and serve to disengage these pawls from the teeth'34 of the Vfeeler withdrawing and holding member, asindicated in Fig. 2, whereuponthe `feeler will be freed to move tothe performance of its feeling function "under thel call of the spring 20.

If at such times the feeler detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle, it will again be moved froiitwardly to bring the teeth 34 into the range of operation of the pawls 44 and 45 and the feeler will be with.- drawn frontwardly to its inactive position, but should the feeler detect a nea-r approach to substantial exhaustion of filling in the shuttle, it will not be moved frontwardly sufficiently far on a detecting beat to bring the teeth 34 of the feeler withdrawing and holding member into the range of action ofthe pawls 44 and 45 and will consequently7 remain activer until upon substantial ex liaustion` of the filling in the 'shuttle the feeler will call for a change of filling.

lVhat is claimed is:

l. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having rack teeth, a pinion adapted for engagement with the rack teeth, Viiie'ansi'or turning the pinion for withdrawing and holding theA feeler inA a frontward inoperative position that it may not engage the filling on detecting` Vbeats during its periods of inactivity, and

means for freeing the pinion at vintervals duringweaving with the same supply of iilliiig that the feeler may move to feeling position.

2in a feeler' mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having a. frontwar'dly extending stem provided with teeth, a toothed wheel engaged with the 'teeth of the feeler, means for turning the toothed wheel to withdraw the feeler frontwardly pinto an inoperative position, means for Aholding the toothed wheel in its feeler withdrawn position, and means for freeing the toothed wheel from its holding means at intervals that the feeler may have periods of' activity and inactivity with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

3In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, means for moving and holdingA the feeler in a frontward inoperative position including a member having a toothed and untoothed portion; a rack and pinion connection between saidinember and feeler, means .for actuating the said memberand acting through the rack and pinion to move tliefeeler in to an inoperative frontward position, and means for free ing the said member at intervals to permit the feeler to havepperiods of activtity and ,f Vperiods of inactivity. pawl 49 will step along the ratchet wheel 4. In a feeler mechanismfor looms, the

vcombination of a feeler, a spring normally acting to move the feeler to lrearward feelholding it for periods of inactivity, a raclt and pinion connection between the feeler and said means, and a trip for freeing the feeler at intervals.`

5. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising in combination, a feeler, feeler withdrawing and holding means for moving the feeler to and holding it in a front position, a rack and pinion connection between the feeler and the Withdrawing and holding means, and devices rendered effective to operate the withdrawing and holding means when the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat.

6. An intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, comprising, in combination, a feeler, a

lll)

device 'lor moving the teeler to an iuope 'z tive trontward position and holding' it tor pei'iods of inactivity, means for rendering the device eli'ective to move the teeler to its inoperative position by rontward movement `of the teeler when a working supply of tilling is in the shuttle on a detectingl beat, and means for tripping` the device at intervals that the eeler may have periods or" activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of lilling' in the shuttle.

7. In an intermittent ifeeler mechanism for looms, the combination ot a teeler, a teeler withdrawing and holding` device, an actuator for said device, connections between the teeler and said device tor movingl the latter and into control oi its actuator when thel teeler is moved ti'ontwardly by a working supply ot filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat, and means tor 'freeing' the teeler from said device at intervals that the feeler may have periods of activity and inactivity during` weaving' with the same supply ot filling in the shuttle.

8. In a feeler mechanisn'i ttor looms., the combination or" a feeler, a 'teelei' withdrawii'ig and holding device. a racland pinion connection between said device and the teeler, means for operatingsaid device and acting` througl'i the rack and pinion to withdraw and hold the feeler in an inoperative position, and means for freeing said device at intervals that the teeler may have periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle.

9. In a eeler mechanism toi' looms, the combination oft a feeler having rack teeth, a pinion engaged therewith, a leeler withdrawing device acting through the rack and pinion, a pawl for actuating' said device, a pawl for holding said device in teeler withdrawn position, and a trip for freeing the device rom both pawls at intervals. i

l0. In a feeler mechanism for looms,- the combination of a t'eeler, a rotary eeler withdrawing member having' a toothed and untoothed portion, a rack and pinion connection between the withdrawing member and eeler, a pawl for operating the said member to withdraw the Jeeler from operative position, and a trip for freeing said member atintervals that the feeleiI` may have periods ot activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of illing in the shuttle.

1l. In an intermittent i'eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a i'eeler, a 'eeler withdrawing and holding,I device, an actuator for the withdrawing', end holding' device, connections between the Vifeelei' and said device for moving' the latter into control of its actuator when theffeelei' is moved frontwardly by a working supply oic iilling in the shuttle on a'detectingbeat, a eeler stand on which said parts are mounted, and

pinion in feeler withdrawn position, and' means toi' freeing the pinion at intervals that the feeler mayahave periods of inactivity and periods of activity with the same supply of filling in the. shuttle.

13. In a eeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a teeler to detect the conditio-n of theiilling in the shuttle, means -for moving the feeler to a rontward position Vand holding` it duringits periods of inactivity, a rack and pinion connection between the t'eeler and said means, and aratchet and pawl actuated .trip for freeing the eeler at intervals.

14, In a teeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect the condition of the illing in the shuttle, means tor' moving the feeler to a trontward position and holdingit during its periods of .inactivity, a rack and pinion connection between the feeler and said means, a bunter adapted to be actuated by a part o-n the lay, and a trip operated by the bunter to free. the feeler at intervals. Y

In testimony whereof, I havel signed my name to this speciiication.

s ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

